Can you connect two computers directly with a USB or ethernet cable?

I would like to connect two laptop computers directly together so I can copy files over without removing the hard drives (I might wish to connect a laptop to a desktop computer as well). Can I connect them using a male to male USB cable? What about an ethernet cable? If both are possible, which one would be better speedwise etc?

I would like to connect two laptop computers directly together so I can copy files over without removing the hard drives (I might wish to connect a laptop to a desktop computer as well). Can I connect them using a male to male USB cable? What about an ethernet cable? If both are possible, which one would be better speedwise etc?

There are usb cables made to do this...google usb transfer cables etc.

If the two laptops/desktops have a gigabit ethernet port, then just one Cat5 patch cord would be required.

If they are not gigabit, then you'll need a hub, switch or router do it, along with 2 ethernet cords.

Speedwise the fastest would be yank the laptop drive and mount it as a slave drive in the desktop...assuming you have the proper drive cables in the desktop.

There are also usb to hard drive adapters you can get.

Yanking the drives are one of the more easier things to do on most laptops...

I would like to connect two laptop computers directly together so I can copy files over without removing the hard drives (I might wish to connect a laptop to a desktop computer as well). Can I connect them using a male to male USB cable? What about an ethernet cable? If both are possible, which one would be better speedwise etc?

It's possible with either interface but it's easier and faster with Ethernet. You'll need a crossover cable (which is different from a regular cat-5 cable). Read the article below for instructions and more info.

It's possible with either interface but it's easier and faster with Ethernet. You'll need a crossover cable (which is different from a regular cat-5 cable). Read the article below for instructions and more info.

according to wikipedia, crossover cables are pretty obsolete now that most all 1000baseT adapters can auto crossover internally so if at least one of the ethernet cards is a modern gigabit nic, then you should be able to do this with a regular patch cable

I just wanted to add that you should NEVER connect two host devices (computers) together using a standard USB male to male cable. It can potentially fry your USB ports. They make USB data transfer cables specifically for that.

according to wikipedia, crossover cables are pretty obsolete now that most all 1000baseT adapters can auto crossover internally so if at least one of the ethernet cards is a modern gigabit nic, then you should be able to do this with a regular patch cable

This statement is the most correct posted so far. As long as one of the computers has a gigabit Ethernet port it doesn't matter what kind of Ethernet cable you use. Just plug one end into one computer and the other end into the second computer.

according to wikipedia, crossover cables are pretty obsolete now that most all 1000baseT adapters can auto crossover internally so if at least one of the ethernet cards is a modern gigabit nic, then you should be able to do this with a regular patch cable

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from maramos
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This statement is the most correct posted so far. As long as one of the computers has a gigabit Ethernet port it doesn't matter what kind of Ethernet cable you use. Just plug one end into one computer and the other end into the second computer.

A crossover cable is still the safer way to do it if the OP is unsure of the technical capabilities of the devices he is using. I assume this is the case since he is even asking this question in the first place.

If the two laptops/desktops have a gigabit ethernet port, then just one Cat5 patch cord would be required.

It doesn't have to be gigabit. Why do you think it does? You just connect the Ethernet ports like you said, assign static addresses and away you go. I recall doing this with Fast Ethernet cards.

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from FlashX83
:

I just wanted to add that you should NEVER connect two host devices (computers) together using a standard USB male to male cable. It can potentially fry your USB ports. They make USB data transfer cables specifically for that.

Last edited by redmaxx March 6, 2011 at 06:53 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

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I'm pretty sure if it's 10 base-T or 100 base-T you will have to use a crossover cable even if you set static IP. If uncertain, safest to go with a crossover cable. However, if you expect to do this more than once, I would go ahead and get a switch or router. Or you can get a portable hard drive to transfer files to. If you have internet access on both, you could use DropBox or similar. Dropbox has first 2gb free, just have to sign up and run on both computers and whatever file you put in the folder automatically syncs with the other computer. Lots of choices.

A crossover cable is still the safer way to do it if the OP is unsure of the technical capabilities of the devices he is using. I assume this is the case since he is even asking this question in the first place.

I was just posting is an option to try since it didn't sound like the OP wanted to go out and buy anything.

It doesn't have to be gigabit. Why do you think it does? You just connect the Ethernet ports like you said, assign static addresses and away you go. I recall doing this with Fast Ethernet cards.

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from DoctorBob
:

I'm pretty sure if it's 10 base-T or 100 base-T you will have to use a crossover cable even if you set static IP. If uncertain, safest to go with a crossover cable. However, if you expect to do this more than once, I would go ahead and get a switch or router. Or you can get a portable hard drive to transfer files to. If you have internet access on both, you could use DropBox or similar. Dropbox has first 2gb free, just have to sign up and run on both computers and whatever file you put in the folder automatically syncs with the other computer. Lots of choices.

Gig Cards use all four pairs, 10/100 cards only use 2 pair and can't do it without the x-over cable.

Gig cards will auto-sense if you have an x-over or straight through patch cord...and will work.

according to wikipedia, crossover cables are pretty obsolete now that most all 1000baseT adapters can auto crossover internally so if at least one of the ethernet cards is a modern gigabit nic, then you should be able to do this with a regular patch cable

Now this is cool...that the gig card will flop things around and talk to the 10/100 card...I was on the both had to be...but it makes sense that only one has to be a gig....

So I bet the OP has one box with a gig card in it...as they are becoming pretty common these days.

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from redmaxx
:

A crossover cable will allow a Fast Ethernet card to connect to another Fast Ethernet card.

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